Electron tube with external flexible contact arms for vibration dampening



Dec. 6, 1966 P. w. KASEMAN 3,2%,529

ELECTRON TUBE WITH EXTERNAL FLEXIBLE CONTACT ARMS FOR VIBRATIONDAMPENING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 13, 1963 NVEN TOR.

Il i Ill f 1 l f f f l 1 f ,fifa/Wad Dec. 6, 1966 P. W. KASEMAN3,290,529

ELECTRON TUBE WITH EXTERNAL FLEXBLE CONTACT ARMS FOR VIBRATION DAMPENINGFiled June 13, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTR. 79M W. /ff/WA/ UnitedStates Patent C ELECTRON TUBE WITH EXTERNAL FLEXIBLE OTACT ARMS FORVIBRATIUN DAMIEN- Paul Warren Kaseman, Lancaster, Pa., assigner to RadioCorporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Filed .lune 13, 1963,Ser. No. 287,577 14 Claims. (Cl. 313-50) This invention relates topickup tubes of the image orthicon type and is particularly concernedwith reducing microphonics in such tubes.

Microphonics in a pickup tube are objectionable in that they induceundesired effects in the output video signal from a transmitter in whichthe tube is used. Such undesired effects may manifest themselves, forexample, as streaks or other distortions in the received picture.Microphonics in a tube usually arises as a consequence of vibration ofcertain elements thereof. In one type of image orthicon such as the 4%.size, such elements are electrodes within the tube other than electrodesformed as coatings on inner surfaces of the tube envelope. Suchnon-coating electrodes comprise an electron gun and dynode system in oneend or stem portion of the tube, and a target with three associatedelectrodes in the other and enlarged end of the tube. In the ty-pe oftube under consideration, the electrodes in the enlarged end of the tubeare supported by and electrically connected to a plurality of relativelyrugged rods that are sealed hermetically through the walls of the tubeenvelope. The portions of the rods extending outside of the envelope arefixed as by means of solder to flexible contact arms. These `arms havefree ends that are urged, when the tube is in the camera housing, tobear against an outer surface of the tube envelope by a conductivecontact strip which may be considered as part of the housing.

Heretofore the source of vibrations lproducing microphonics in an imageorthicon of this type, has eluded workers in this art. A reasonableexplanation for this is that not only are the non-coating electrodesreferred to ruggedly supported in the tube, but the tube itself whenmounted in a camera housing was thought to be isolated effectively fromimpact shocks that might cause vibrations of elements within the tube.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing, therefore, that a solution tothe problem of microphonics in an image orthicon tube of the type underconsideration, involves not only the provision of means to preventvibrations that produce rnicrophonics, but also a determination of thearea or areas where the objectionable vibrations occur and effectiveutilization of the vibration preventing means for those areas.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to reduce microphonics inan image orthicon pickup tube.

A further object is to isolate at least the major cause of microphonicsin an image orthicon tube and to provide means for its elimination.

These objects are achieved as the consequence of a discovery byapplicant that the predominant cause of micro-phonics is an imageorthicon tube of the type referred to, resides in vibration ofelectrodes in the enlarged end portion of the tube. Applicant hasdiscovered that the very ruggedness of the rods supporting theelectrodes in this portion of the tube, contributes to vibration of theelectrodes that result in microphonics during use of the tube. Applicanthas found that the rigidity of the electrode support rods renders themeffective transmitters of vibrations to the electrodes to which they arexed in the enlarged end portion of the tube. Such vibrations, yaccordingto applicants discovery, have their 3,2%,529 Patented Dec. 6, 1956predominant source in relative movements or vibrations transmitted fromsuch a source as the camera housing to the free ends of the flexiblecontact arms and thence through the tube envelope portions against whichthe free ends bear when the tube is mounted in the camera housing. Thevibrations so induced in the glass envelope are transmitted by theenvelope to the electrode support rods and thus to the electrodes in theenlarged end portion of the tube.

Having found a major cause of microphonics in an image orthicon tube,applicant removes it by interposing between the contact arms and thetube envelope a body of material of suflicient resiliency to prevent orabsorb or damp transmission of vibrations therethrough to the tubeenvelope during use of the tube in a camera. Applicant discovered thatone way of doing this is to telescope snugly over the free end portionsof the arms, relatively short tubing of resilient material such asheatshrinkable polyvinyl chloride tubing. Applicant found thatappreciable advantage results when the tu-bings are advancedsufficiently along the arms for good adherence thereof to the arms andhave a length to provide an extension thereof beyond the free ends ofthe arms. This not only assures that the free ends of the arms arecovered by the resilient material, but contributes added resiiiency tothe engagement between the arms and the envelope wall. The utilizationof the resilient tubing or boots aforementioned, eliminatessubstantially all microphonics during use of the tube.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become evident inthe following and more detailed description of an example thereof takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a side View partly in section of an image orthicon pickup tubeembodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view partly in section of the tube shown in FIG. 1 buthoused in a camera structure;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a flexible contact arm havinga tubing or boot of resilient material on its free end portion;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section and shows theposition of the flexible contact arm when the tube is housed in acamera;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional View taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. 2 andshows the complement of flexible contact arms employed in an imageorthicon tube; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view in section of a free end portion of aflexible contact arm having a tubing of resilient material telescopedover its free end portion.

In FIG. 1 is shown an image orthicon pickup tube 9 embodying theinvention. The tube includes a glass envelope having a neck portion 10and an enlarged end portion 12. Within the neck portion l@ is disposedan electron gun and multiplier of known design and therefore requires nofurther description herein. On the inner surface of neck portion 10between the gun end of the envelope and the enlarged portion 12 thereof,is a conducting coating 13.

Within the enlarged envelope portion 12 is disposed a complement ofelectrodes. These electrodes include a semi-transparent photocathode 14coated on the inside of a faceplate 16, an accelerator grid 1S, a target(not Shown in detail) housed within cylindrical member 20 and consistingof a thin disc of glass or other material and with a fine mesh screenvery closely spaced from it on the photocathode side thereof. On the gunside of the target are spaced from the photocathode 14 in the ordernamed a field mesh 22 and a decelerator grid 24.

The ve electrodes referred to within the large end portion of the tubeenvelope, are electrically connected to live conducting rods, endportions of five such rods 26,

28, 30, 32 and 34 being shown in FIG. 5. Two of the rods 26 and 34 areshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Each rod comprises a two-part metal core 36. Onepart is within the tube envelope and has a thickness of 40 mils. Thispart is made of a nickel-chromium alloy. The other part, which extendsthrough the seal region is 50 mils thick and made of aniron-nickel-cobalt alloy. The two parts are butt welded. Rod 34 has aninsulating coating 38 a portion of which is removed as shown at 40. Thebare portion of the rod at 40 is electrically connected to targethousing 20 by means of a bracket 42 welded to the rod and to thehousing. Adjacent and insulated portions of the rod 34 are mechanically,but not electrically, connected by two further brackets 44 and 46 to therelatively massive target structure 20 for support purposes. Rods 28, 30and 32 are similarly electrically connected to electrodes 18, 22 and 24respectively, and mechanically connected to the other electrodes withinthe enlarged end portion of the tube, except for the photocathode 14.The photocathode 14 is electrically connected to rod 26 by engagement bya contact 48 on the rod and a conducting coating 50 on the inner Wall ofthe tube envelope extending in conductive relation to the photocathode14. The rod 26 insulatingly engages electrodes 18, 20, 22 and 24 forcontributing to support thereof.

Rods 26 to 34 are hermetically sealed through an lannular, shoulderportion 52 constituting an end Wall of the enlarged portion of the tubeenvelope extending normally to the tube axis, with a portion of the rodsextending outside of the envelope. The latter portions of the rods arefixed for example by a body of solder 54 (FIG. 4), to flat flexiblecontact arms 56 to 64 made of spring Phosphor bronze, for example, bentacross their flatness dimension (FIG. A portion of each of the contactarms extends along the annular portion 52 of the tube envelope, and isxed to a ring 66 (FIGS. 3 and 4) made of insulating material. Thisconstruction protects the rod-toenvelope seals 68 from harmful stresses.

When in use, the tube 9 is disposed within a camera or tube housing 70defining an enlarged space 72 for receiving the enlarged end portion 12of the tube, the camera housing having a smaller diameter space 74 forreceiving the neck portion of the tube, as shown in FIG. 2. Between theinner and outer walls of the housing 70 are disposed focusing coils 76,78, horizontal deflecting coils 80 and an alignment coil 82. The Wallsof the housing referred to may be made of insulating material or metal.

On the inner wall of the housing 70 defining the space 72 fare mountedstrips of conducting material made of silver, for example, and extendingparallel to the axis of the tube. Two of such strips 84, 86 are shown inFIG. 2. Five of such strips are provided for engaging each of the fivecontact arms 56 to 64 mounted on the tube 9 when the tube is positionedin housing 70. The walls of the housing 70 may be made of a suitableinsulating material or of a metal. In instances where the inner wall ofthe housing 70 defining the enlarged space 72, is made of metal, a bodyof insulating material 88 is positioned between the strips and thehousing wall. Each of the conducting strips is electrically connected bya lead to one of the prongs 90 of plug 92. For example, strip 84 iselectrically connected to one of the prongs 90 of plug 92 by a lead 93.

When the tube 9 is positioned within housing 7 (i, with the five contactarms 56 to 64 of the tube engaging the five strips, two of which 84, 86ane shown in FIG. 4, appreciable pressure is exerted between the armsand the strips. It is desirable that the free end portions 94 (FIGS. 2,3, 4, and 6) be bent inwardly toward the adjacent tube envelope. Suchinward bend avoids a sharp edge engagement of the ar-ms with theconducting strips. Such sharp edge engagement is objectionable in thatit would result in excessive wear of the metal strips, particularly whenthe latter are made of a `relatively soft material such as silver,during repeated insertions and removals of tube 9 `from t-he housing 70.Indeed, such sharp engagement might lock the tube within the housing andprevent removal of the tube therefrom. The inward bend in the contactarms is also desirable for supporting the tube in the housing.

During the pressure engagement between the arms 56 to 64 and theirassociated conducting strips within the housing 70, the free ends of thearms engage the outer surface of the enlarged end portion 12 of the tube9 with appreciable pressure due to their support function with respectto the tube. Any impact shocks applied to the housing 7() therefore aretransmitted through the arms 56 to 64, not only to the adjacent tubeenvelope but also to the rods 26 to 34 sea'led through the envelope. Asa consequence, the rods referred to not only have transmitted to themsuch impact shocks in a path comprising the contact arms 56 to 64, butalso in a path formed by a portion of the tube envelope. In addition,the flexible character of the contact arms 56 to 64 may cause them torespond in a higher frequency than that of the impacts to which thehousing 70 may be subjected. There is also a likelihood that sympatheticvibrations 'may be induced `in the flexible contact arms under theconditions described, thereby amplifying the initial vibrations.

T-he concentration of such vibrations by the two transmission paths justdescribed, in the end portions of rods 26 to 34, results in .a furthertransmission of the vibrations through the rods and to the electrodes18, 20, 22, and 24, and the contact 48. The ruggedncss of the rods 26 to34 required for support purposes, renders them particularly effectivefor transmission of vibrations` to the areas indicated. Such vibrationsproduce objectionable tresults in these areas. For example, vibrationsof contact 48 result in intermittent connection of the photocathode 14to its associated electrical supply. Vibrations of the target and meshwithin the housing 70 produce recurrent Ichanges in their relativespacings resulting -in an erratic output from the tube 9 known asmicrophonics. The vibrations referred to may also tend to interrupt o-rchange the resistance of the contacts of the contact arms 56 to 64 withtheir associated conducting strips in the housing 70.

Applicant has found that if a body of resilient material is interposedbetween the yfree ends of the arms 56 to 64 and the adjacent turbeenvelope wall, an appreciable reduction in microphonics results. Notonly has it been found that the body of resilient material restrainsrelative movement between the free ends of the contact arms and theenvelope of the tube, lbut in addition serves to dampen the vibrationsthroughout the entire length of the contact .ar-ms, including theportions thereof fixed to the rods 26 to 34. These portions of the armsare additionally damped by the 'multiple layers of metal provided bysoldered joints thereof to the rods 26 to 34.

For service as a vibration damping means, the body of resilient materialshould have a resiliency for effective restraint to transmission to theenvelope wall, of vibrations that may be induced in the contact arms.Thus appli-cant has found that the resiliency of lthe interposed bodyshould have a value represented by a range of from a deflection responseof j/64 inch at a pressure of 10 pounds per square inch, to a valuecharacter-ized by a deflection response of 1%: inch at a pressure of lpound per square inch. One material found suitable and having aresiliency within this range, is the aforementioned polyvinyl chloride.

Applicant has found that the resilient material performs best as asnubbing or vibration insulating means when it is utilized in a form inwhich not only the resiliency of the material itself is relied on as avibration restraining means, but in which the structure into which thematerial is formed contributes to a vibration restraint. Thus applicanthas found that best vibration restraint is provided when the resilientmateria-l is in the form of relatively short tubings or boots 96 (FIG.6) that are firmly telescoped over the tree end portions of Fl ft) thecontact arms 56 to 64. This is accomplished by threading :a tubing 96having an undersized bore, over the free ends of a contact arm 64. Ofparticular significauce to the vibration restraining function of thetubings or boots 96, ils that they be sufiiciently long not only toafford an adherent engagement with the contact, but to prov-ide a tailportion 98 extending beyond the free ends of the contact arms. Theimportance of this structure of the resilient tubings 96 will becomeyevident from the showing in FIG. 4. In this showing the arfm e4 isdepicted in enga-gement with conducting tstrip 84 and urged against theWall of the enlarged envelope portion 12. It will be seen that the forcewith which the arm 64 is urged, is absorbed partly 'by -compression ofthe resilient material of boot 96 and .partly by a deflection or bend inthe tail portion 98. This bend adds a component .of resiliency to theboot 96 that supplements the resiliency of the material itself andcontributes appreciably to the effective restraint to vibrationtransmission afforded by ap-plicants structure.

Ideally, the length of the tail portion 93 needs only be such as toassure the formation of an arc between the -free end of arm 64 and thefree end of the tail portion 98, of such radius that further elongationof the tail portion would fail to contribute to enlange-ment of the arc.Ins-tead, further elongation would leave the excess tail length flatagainst the tube wall. This length of the tail portion 98 can bedetermined empirically by persons skilled in the art and will differwith materials of different characteristics Aof elasticity. In theabsence of such determination, and as a practical matter, it is feasibleto make the taill portion 93 slightly longer than the ideal lengthreferred to. However 4for best results the tail portion 98 should not beshorter than the ideal length indicated. In one example .utilizingpolyvinyl chloride, the length of the tail portion 18 was one-eighth ofan inch. This length is the dimension X yshown in FIG. 6.

It is apparent from the foregoing that an improved image `orthiconpickup tube is provided, in which at least one source of objectionablemicrophonics has been eliminated.

What is claimed is:

1. An electron tube having an envelope,

(a) electrodes within said envelope,

(b) rigid supports for said electrodes extending through one portion ofsaid envelope,

(c) external elongated flexible contact arms connected at one endportion thereof to said supports, said arms being iiat and bent acrosstheir flatness dimension to dispose the other and free ends thereof innormally spaced relation with respect to another portion of saidenvelope,

(d) and resilient means threaded over and extending beyond said freeends of said arms for insulating said another portion of said envelopefrom shocks imparted to said free ends of said arms when said free endsare urged against said another portion of the envelope.

2. An electron tube having an envelope,

(a) an electrode within said envelope,

(b) a rigid support for said electrode extending through one portion ofsaid envelope,

(c) an external elongated flexible contact arm connected at one endportion thereof to a portion of said support extending outside of saidenvelope, said arm being fiat and bent across its atness dimension todispose the other end portion thereof in normally spaced relation withrespect to another portion of said envelope,

(d) and resilient means between said other end portion of said arm andsaid other portion of said envelope for insulating said other portion ofsaid envelope from shocks imparted to said other end portion of said armwhen said other end portion is urged against said another portion of theenvelope, said resilient means extending beyond the free ends of saidother fi end portion to provide insulation between said free end andsaid another portion of said envelope.

3. An electron tube having a glass envelope,

(a) electrodes within said envelope,

(b) supports for said electrodes extending through one portion of saidenvelope to the exterior of said envelope,

(c) external elongated flexible contact arms connected at one endportion thereof to portions of said supports exterior of said envelope,said arms being bent to dispose the other end portions thereof innormally spaced relation with respect to another portion of saidenvelope,

(d) and resilient means covering said other end portions of said armsincluding the free ends thereof for insulating said another portion ofsaid envelope from shocks imparted to said other end portions and saidfree ends of said arms when said free ends are urged against saidanother portion of the envelope, said resilient means comprising atubular structure made of resilient material, said structure and saidmaterial contributing to the resiliency of said means.

4. An electron tube having a glass envelope,

(a) electrodes within said envelope,

(b) supports for said electrodes extending through one portion of saidenvelope,

(c) external elongated flexible contact arms connected at one endportion thereof to said supports, said arms being bent to dispose theother end portions thereof in normally spaced relation with respect toanother portion of said envelope,

(d) and resilient means covering said other end portions of said armsfor insulating said one portion of said envelope from shocks imparted tosaid other end portions of said arms when said other end portions areurged against said another portion of the envelope,

(l) said resilient means comprising a tubular Astructure made ofresilient material, said structure and said material contributing to theresiliency of said means,

(2) the resiliency of said structure being within a range measured by adeflection of said m-aterial of from 1&4 inch in response to a pressureof 10 pounds per square inch to 3A inch in response to a pressure of onepound per square inch.

5. An electron tube having a glass envelope vibration transmissive fromone portion thereof to another portion,

(a) electrodes within said envelope,

(b) rigid supports for said electrodes extending through said anotherportion of said envelope,

(c) external elongated exible contact arms connected at one end portionthereof to said supports, said arms being bent to dispose the other endportions thereof in normally spaced relation with respect to said oneportion of said envelope,

(d) and resilient exible boots covering said other end portions of saidarms and extending beyond the free ends of said other end portions forinsulating said one portion and said another portion of said envelopefrom shocks imparted to said other end portions and free ends of saidarms when said other end portions are urged against said one portion ofthe envelope.

6. An electron tube including an envelope having a side wall and an endwall,

(a) electrodes within said envelope,

(b) support means for said electrodes extending through and outside ofsaid end wall,

(c) elongated exible contact arms connected at one end thereof to saidsupport means outside of said envelope, said contact arms having freeend portions curved towards the outer surface of said side wall andnormally spa-ced therefrom, said contact arms being adapted to be flexedto cause the free ends thereof t0 (b) a plurality of relatively rigidsupport rods extending parallel to said axis and fixed to peripheralportions of said electrodes, said rods being hermctically sealed throughsaid annular portion and including end portions extending outside ofsaid envelope,

(c) elongated flexible contact arms each having one end fixed to adifferent one only of said end portions, said arms being bent to provideportions thereof extending substantially parallel to and in spacedrelation with said side wall of said cylindrical portion, said engagesaid outer surface when said tube is disposed in a housing,

(d) and resilient flexible means between said wall and said free endsfor insulating said side wall from shocks transmitted to said arms.

7. An electron tube including a glass envelope having a side wall and anend wall,

(a) electrodes within said envelope,

(b) support means for said electrodes sealed through said end wall,

curved towards the outer surface of said side wall and normally spacedtherefrom, said contact arms being adapted to be flexed to cause thefree ends thereof to engage said outer surface when said tube (c)elongated flexible contact arms connected at one lo arm portions havinga curvature therein to cause end end thereof to said support meansoutside of said portions thereof to extend towards said side walls.envelope, said contact arms having free end portions (d) and boots ofresilient material telescoped over said curved towards the outer surfaceof said side wall and end portions, said boots having a length toprovide normally spaced therefrom, said -contact arms being tailportions free from engagement with said end poradapted to be flexed tocause the free ends thereof to tions, whereby said boots engage saidside wall when engage said outer surface when said tube is disposed saidarms are urged against said side wall for preventinatube housing, ingtransmission to said side wall of vibrations im- (d) and tubings ofresilient material threaded over said parted to said arms.

free end portions and having tails free from engage- 1l. An imageorthicon pick-up tube comprising ment with said free end portions, saidtails being (a) a glass envelope having a neck portion and an enadaptedto bend when said arms are flexed toward larged end portion, saidenvelope including an annusaid side wall surface, whereby said tubesinsulate lar portion joining said neck and enlarged end porsaid sidewall from shock transmitted to said arms. tions and lying in a planesubstantially normal to the 8. An electron tube including a glassenvelope having a longitudinal aXiS 0f Said envClOpC,

side wall and an end wall, (b) a plurality of electrodes in saidenlarged end por- (a) electrodes within said envelope, the functions ofOD,

said electrodes being adversely affected by vibration (c) a plurality ofrods extending parallel to Said axis thereof, and fixed to saidelectrodes, said rods being each con- (b) rigid support means rigidlyengaging said electrodes nCCtGd elCrCallY t0 a different 011 only, 0fSad and sealed through said end wall, electrodes, said rods being sealedhermetically (c) elongated flexible contact arms connected at onellrOugh Said annular pOriOIl 0f the envelOPe, and

end thereof to said support means outside of said enhaving end portionsextending outside of said envelope, said contact arms having free endportions VlOPe, curved towards the outer surface of said side wall (d) aflexible contact member fixed to each of said end and normally closelyspaced therefrom, said contact portions of the rods, said contact memberincluding arms being adapted to be flexed to cause the free ends a firstportion extending parallel to said annular porthereof to engage saidouter surface when said tube tion and a second portion bent with respectto said is disposed in a tube housing, first portion and towards theouter Wall of said en- (d) andiubings of resilient material threadedover said larged end portion, said second portion having a free endportions and having tails free from engagecurvature therein towards saidouter wall, of a magniment with said free end portions, said tails beingtude to cause a line parallel to the envelope axis to adapted to bendwhen said arms are flexed toward be tangent thereto, whereby said secondportion when said side wall surface, whereby said tubes insulate urgedagainst said outer wall engages said wall at its said side wall and saidend wall from shock transfree end only, in arelatively sharp contact,mitted to said arms and said electrodes are preserved (e) and a boot ofresilient material adherently telefrom vibration. scoped over the freeend portion of said contact mem- 9. An electron tube including anenvelope having a ber, said boot having a tail portion extending beyondside wall and an end wall, the free end of said contact member, forisolating said (a) electrodes within said envelope, free end of thecontact member from the wall of said (b) support means for saidelectrodes extending enlarged end portion when said contact member isthrough said end wall, pressed against said wall, whereby vibrationstrans- (c) elongated flexible contact arms connected at one mitted tosaid contact member are restrained from end thereof to said supportmeans outside of said passage to said wall. envelope, said contact armshaving free end portions 12. An electron tube adapted to be receivedwithin a housing when in operative position and having an elongatedenvelope,

(a) a plurality of electrodes within one portion of said envelope,

is disposed in atube housing, (b) rigid support and conducting membersconnected (d) and tubings of resilient material threaded over said toSald, electrodes for supportmg Sald electrodes and free end portions andhaving tails free from engage- Supplying voltage thereto sa1d.c0nductmgmembers ment with said free end portions, said tails being extendingthmllgh me WauOf said envelope adapted to bend when said arms are flexedtoward (C) external exlble Contact amis connected at on? end to saidconductors and extending away from said ensaid side wall surface toisolate said free end portions Velope frm Sald Side Wan by a dlstanegreater thfm the (d) and flexible means attached to the other ends ofthlckness of the Wall of Said tubmgs when said con' said flexiblecontact arms and extending beyond said tact arms are exed other ends,said flexible means being in contact with 10, An electron tube having anenvelope including a said envelope when said electron tube is inoperating cylindrical portion and an annular portion extendinginposition, whereby shocks imparted to said tube will wardly of saidcylindrical portion, be absorbed by said flexible means and said contact(a) a plurality of generally cylindrical electrodes witharms.

in said cylindrical portion and spaced along an axis 13. In a televisioncamera, common to said cylindrical portion, (a) a housing,

(b) an electron tube having an envelope Within said housing,

(c) electrodes within said envelope,

(d) rigid supports for said electrodes extending through one portion ofsaid envelope,

(e) external elongated flexible contact arms connected at one endportion thereof to .said supports, said housing having contact strips onthe inner wall thereof, said arms being flat and bent across theirflatness to provide a contact surface engaging said Contact strips, saidarms having a length to dispose the other end portions thereof incontact relation with respect to another portion of said envelope,

(f) and resilient means between said other end portions of said arms andsaid other portion of said envelope for insulating said other portion ofsaid envelope from shocks imparted by said housing to said other endportions of said arms.

14. In a television camera,

(a) an elongated housing having conductive strips extending along theinner wall of said housing,

(b) an electron tube having an elongated envelope Within said housing,

(c) electrodes within said envelope,

(d) rigid supports for said electrodes extending through one portion ofsaid envelope,

(e) external elongated flexible contact arms connected at one group ofend portions thereof to said supports, and urged against said conductionstrips, said arms being at and bent across their atness dimension toprovide an intermediate portion thereof in engagement with said strips,and to dispose the other end portions thereof in contact engagement withanother portion of said envelope,

(f) and resilient means between said other end portions of said arms andsaid other portion of said envelope for insulating said other portion ofsaid envelope from shocks imparted to said other end portions of saidarms by said housing.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,688,622 10/1928Johnson 174-52 X 2,411,323 ll/1946 Hillyer et al. 313-50 3,206,7139/1965 Horan 313-318 X JAMES W. LAWRENCE, Primary Examiner.

25 P. C. DEMEO, Assistant Examiner.

6. AN ELECTRON TUBE INCLUDING AN ENVELOPE HAVING A SIDE WALL AND AN ENDWALL, (A) ELECTRODES WITHIN SAID ENVELOPE, (B) SUPPORT MEANS FOR SAIDELECTRODES EXTENDING THROUGH AND OUTSIDE OF SAID END WALL, (C) ELONGATEDFLEXIBLE CONTACT ARMS CONNECTED AT ONE END THEREOF TO SAID SUPPORT MEANSOUTSIDE OF SAID ENVELOPE, SAID CONTACT ARMS HAVING FREE END PORTIONSCURVED TOWARDS THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID SIDE WALL AND NORMALLY SPACEDTHEREFROM, SAID CONTACT ARMS BEING ADAPTED TO BE FLEXED TO CAUSE THEFREE ENDS THEREOF TO ENGAGE SAID OUTER SURFACE WHEN SAID TUBE ISDISPOSED IN A HOUSING, (D) AND RESILIENT FLEXIBLE MEANS BETWEEN SAIDWALL AND SAID FREE ENDS FOR INSULATING SAID SIDE WALL FROM SHOCKSTRANSMITTED TO SAID ARMS.